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| Britain |
| Ex-RAF top gun (call sign Hooligan) has made a killing training China's fighter pilots - and helped recruit dozens of British airmen paid £250,000 a year by Beijing... so why has the MoD only just woken up to this outrage? |
| 2022-10-23 |
| [MAIL] His arm resting nonchalantly on the side of the cockpit and with the Tornado’s roof completely removed, dashing Keith Hartley turns to face the camera. He looks every inch the national hero, risking life and limb during this 1988 test flight, which was conducted when Tornados and their pilots were on the front line of the Cold War. Only when you take a second glance at this remarkable photograph do you realise that Hartley isn’t just flying without any overhead canopy: he has also removed his oxygen supply. That’s no mean feat at speeds exceeding 500mph. Three decades on, the famous picture of the RAF’s ‘cabriolet’ testing programme, which the pilot autographed for posterity, still incites a certain awe, capturing the swagger and derring-do of the Top Gun era. Back then, Keith Hartley was the very Best of British. Known by the call-sign ‘Hooligan,’ his swashbuckling work played a key role in defending our realm. Today, things are different. For while the former RAF officer remains gainfully employed in the aviation industry, his recent endeavours engender scorn, rather than envy. To former comrades, he’s no longer a hero. Why so? Earlier this week the British government released a ‘threat alert’ about former British fighter pilots who are signing up to help train the Chinese equivalent of the RAF. |
| Posted by:Skidmark |
| #7 re: #6 Now there's yet another example of thoughtful and well reasoned discourse. |
| Posted by: Canuckistan sniper 2022-10-23 21:41 |
| #6 That's it, Dale, shit something out of your facial anus in Old Coot Mode about Ukraine, maybe people will forget to be mad about the betrayal to China. (spits) |
| Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain 2022-10-23 12:23 |
| #5 I would imagine that they've been told not to mention anything classified, and report back on "interesting" items. |
| Posted by: ed in texas 2022-10-23 11:03 |
| #4 There. oops. Had an Uncle who flew a tiger. Later piloted with Pan Am and helped with the airlift out of Cuba. Traveled the world he did. |
| Posted by: Dale 2022-10-23 10:04 |
| #3 Elements training Ukrainians now. Who knows how many troops their now. Marines in Sweden and other border nations at this time. Early on Navy seals lodged(hardly rustic) in fancy motel in I believe Kyiv. Short stay as military showed up and demanded they leave. So without hesitation they left. This story told by a Seal who was there. So at any time USA and NATO will attack when the mood suits them. Just as Putin warned of over many years. Same efforts worked in the Arab world called the domino effect. How did that turn out as with other areas as with Vietnam, Afghanistan and so on. Massive money printing. Pallets of money airmailed to even Russia during the cold war. Obama, and Biden promote this diplomatic effort. Perhaps Putin realizing this and China promote an alternate world dominate currency. With real value backing it up based on things of value not based on paper. So a short term effort. Past history demonstrates the end results repeatedly. Bloated and overextended in many conflicts saps the true wealth of any nation. Today's world the nuclear option is now available. Biden's mental state is an unsettling thought having the nuclear codes. |
| Posted by: Dale 2022-10-23 10:00 |
| #2 Where have I seen this before? |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2022-10-23 07:39 |
| #1 Could Liz Truss have a 'Hooligan' in her past ? Excerpts from TFASA response: * On 19 Oct 2022 a UK Ministry of Defence (“UK MoD”) spokesman told the BBC that: “the training and the recruiting of pilots does not breach any current UK law.” (BBC News). * TFASA also wishes to highlight that it has been in contact with the UK MoD for many years and they are fully aware of the nature of the company’s business. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2022-10-23 02:06 |